Asbestos

11 April 2016 14:20

100.000 deaths every year from asbestos: BWI President demands that asbestos be on the agenda of all governments

Eighty delegates from 33 countries meet in Vienna to discuss how to
achieve a worldwide ban on the use of chrysotile. BWI President, Klaus
Wiesehügel, emphasized in his speech "Asbestos should be on the agenda
of all governments as the consequences of an exposure to asbestos will
be much more serious than we thought few years ago. "

According to Klaus Wiesehügel, a big problem is the aggressive
worldwide lobby of the asbestos industry which focuses increasingly on
developing countries now that asbestos is completely banned in more than
40 countries. In developing countries, there is still an increase in
the import of chrysotile from Russia, Khazakstan, Canada and Brazil.

A parallel event was organised in the same venue by "trade unions"
supported by the Chrysotile asbestos industry and was dismissed by the
BWI as a "clear provocation". Wiesehügel told delegates "These people
are looking for confrontation. We will not accept their provocation, our
policy is crystal clear".

Johann Holper, President of our Austrian affiliate GBH added "This
proves that the success of the BWI global campaign for a worldwide ban
is feared by those in favour of asbestos. We will continue to work until
we reach a worldwide ban!"

The asbestos industry wants to convince the public that asbestos is
not dangerous. For Igor Fedotov from the international Labour
Organization (ILO) in Geneva: "All serious scientists are opposing this
opinion. The best prevention is a worldwide ban! "

The figures are frightening: At least 100,000 people die from
asbestos diseases every year, according to international estimates. For
Fiona Murie, Director of the BWI Health and Safety programme "The real
figure is certainly even higher than that, there is no reliable
recording of the medical cases in many countries. Furthermore, many
victims do not know that they were exposed to asbestos and, because of
the long time lag between exposure and the emergence of the symptoms,
asbestos diseases are not correctly diagnosed, treated, compensated or,
most importantly, prevented."